National Seminar on Urdu litterateur Dr. Abu Muhammad Sahar in Bhopal

By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,

Bhopal: A two-day National Seminar on the life and literary pursuits of Urdu litterateur late Dr. Abu Muhammad Sahar of Bhopal (1928-2002), who was a critic, linguist and poet, is being held here on December 22 and 23 at the Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy’s premises in the Mulla Ramoozi auditorium.

Dr. Aziz Qureshi, the Governor of Uttarkhand, will be the chief guest at the inaugural function of the seminar which would be presided over by Dr. Khwaja Ikramuddin, Director of National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language, (NCPUL), New Delhi. Prof. Akhtarul-Wasey, Director of Dr. Zakir Husain Institute of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, would be the guest of honour on the occasion.

Dr. Abu Muhammad Sahar

The keynote address of the seminar will be delivered by Dr. Mukhtar Shamim in the inaugural session. Mr. Owais Arab, president of Association of Indian Muslims, (AIM), Bhopal, will give the welcome address.

The valedictory function of the seminar on December 23 will be presided over by well-known Urdu critic Prof. Afaq Ahmad and Mr. Habeeb Ahmad (both from Bhopal). The seminar is being organised by AIM in collaboration with NCPUL, Madhya Pradesh Urdu Academy and Chitransh ADPG College, Bhopal, which have jointly sponsored it.

In the seminar more than one-and-a-half-dozen Urdu litterateurs from all over the country will present papers on the life and literary works of Dr. Abu Mohammad Sahar. Those who will read out their papers include: Prof. (Dr.) Khalid Mahmood, Prof. (Dr.) Shahpar Rasool, Prof. Shahzad Anjum, Dr. Maula Bakhash, Dr. Shahida Perveen, Dr. Ahmad Mahfooz, Dr. Sohail Farooqui & Dr. Irshad Niyazi (all eight from New Delhi); Prof. Zafar Ahmad Siddiqui & Prof. Rafad Fatihi (both from Aligarh); Dr. Khalil Ahmad Siddiqui (Indore); Sikandar Ahmad (Mumbai); Dr. Shahid Pathan (Wardha); Dr. Yaqoob Yawar (Banaras); Dr. Mukhtar Shamim, Prof. Afaq Husain Siddiqui, Prof. Azhar Rahi & Prof. Haider Abbas Rizvi (all four from Bhopal) and Dr. Saifi Sironji (Sironj).

Prof. (Dr.) Younus Hasni from Karachi (Pakistan) is also expected to read his paper in the seminar if he is able to overcome the hassles of travelling from across the border.

Meanwhile, it may be mentioned here that Dr. Abu Muhammad Sahar, who was Professor & Head of Urdu Department in local Hamidia College, took voluntary retirement in 1984 when he had six more years to go. He has more than a dozen books to his credit.

Dr. Abu Muhammad Sahar was born in Mohiuddinpur in Fatahpur District of Uttar Pradesh on April 10, 1928. His original name was Abu Muhammad Abul Qasim who took “Takhallus” (pen name) “Sahar” when he started penning poetries in the form of Nazm, Ghazal, Rubayee etc. Interestingly he had command over English language also and in the beginning wrote articles about literature and philosophy in English which had much depth.

The books Dr. Sahar authored include: “Urdu MeiN Qaseedah Nigari” (1958); “Tanqueed-wa-Tajzeeah” (1961); “Mutala’a Ameer” (1965); “Intakhaab Qasaaed Urdu-mae-Muqadma-wa-Hawashi” (1969); Ghalibyaat Ke Chand Mubahis” (1973); “Barg-e-Ghazal” (1981); “Urdu Imla Aur Uski Islah’ (1982); “Zabaan-wa-Lughat” (1983); Ghalibyaat Aur Hum” (1984); “ Urdu Rasm-ul-Khat Aur Imla – Aik Muhakma” (1999); “Adabi Tahqeeq-wa-Tanqueed”; “Hindi/Hindawi Par Aik Nazar Aur Doosre Mazameen”; “Barg-e-Sahar” (2002)

His book “Urdu MeiN Qaseedah Nigari” is prescribed by many universities for MA (Urdu) students. He was recipient of “Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad Ghalib Award Barai Tahqueeq 1984” apart from some other notable awards. He was literary giant who is seen with awe and respect in the Urdu world circle.
(pervezbari@eth.net)